El Salvador Congress to discuss emergency powers in coronavirus response By Nelson Renteria

SAN SALVADOR (Reuters) - El Salvador's Congress will on Friday discuss implementing emergency powers nationwide, including the suspension of some rights to free speech and free association, in an escalation of measures to contain coronavirus.

President Nayib Bukele earlier asked Congress president Mario Ponce to consider decreeing the powers, that would temporarily overrule constitutional guarantees. Ponce convened all 84 lawmakers for a session in the afternoon.

The country has yet to report any cases of coronavirus, even suspected instances, but has taken steadily stricter measures to prevent any possible spread of the virus including a widespread travel ban.

Bukele also on Friday said 2,000 soldiers would be deployed to patrol 142 non-official entry points into the country, and that anyone attempting to enter would be imprisoned.

(Reporting by Nelson Renteria, Writing by Daina Beth Solomon, Editing by Frank Jack Daniel)